Johnson Bitter Over Salt Lake Case

PAUL FOY

Published 8:00 pm, Thursday, January 24, 2002

Associated Press Writer

Two weeks before his indictment on Olympic bribery charges, Dave Johnson was offered a deal: Plead guilty to a tax charge and cooperate. His lawyer told him he'd probably get just 30 days of home confinement.

Johnson, by then ousted from his $200,000-a-year job as senior vice president for the Salt Lake Organizing Committee, would have had to sign a sweeping confession of bribery and deception drafted by the U.S. Justice Department.

"I can't do it," Johnson told his lawyer, Max Wheeler.

Johnson and former boss Tom Welch, president of the Salt Lake City bid and organizing committees, were then indicted on 15 felony counts of bribery racketeering, fraud and conspiracy _ charges are punishable by up to 75 years in prison.

The once-acclaimed bid leaders were accused of plying International Olympic Committee delegates with $1 million in cash and other inducements to award Salt Lake City the 2002 Winter Olympics that begin in two weeks. When a federal district judge threw out the charges last year, the pair's refusal to take the deal seem to pay off.

But the Justice Department appealed that decision on Wednesday, leaving the case far from resolved _ and Johnson still embittered.

"Don't ask me how hard it's been," said Johnson, 43, his tone hardening over pizza at a favorite restaurant. "I didn't do anything criminally wrong. I didn't even know the Travel Act existed."

He's emotionally bruised and battered, but Johnson doesn't regret turning down the plea bargain, even after 18 months of "fighting for my life." He accused federal prosecutors of trying to ruin him, even checking his credit report for signs of financial distress.

Federal prosecutors offered no immediate comment Friday.

Johnson feels betrayed by Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt and other Olympic trustees who, when the scandal unfolded in late 1998 and early 1999, branded the bid leaders criminals and disavowed knowledge of their dealings.

"I am disappointed in the governor," Johnson said. "The hypocrisy was unbelievable from a person who raises money for a living."

Leavitt raises about $800,000 a year in campaign contributions, much of it at an annual gala at his family's southern Utah ranch. He said he had sympathy for the fallen bid leader.

"I was required to clean up a situation that had clearly gone awry," he said Friday. "Whenever you do that, there are inevitable bad feelings. I don't harbor bad feelings toward Dave. I hope he is able to move forward with his life. He deserves to be recognized for the contribution he made. He worked hard."

Johnson and Welch plan to take their families to Olympic events, and they look forward to renewing friendships with IOC members.

"I have no problem going to any Olympic event holding my head high," Johnson said.

After a fight, the organizing committee's insurer started last month to pay Welch and Johnson's legal bills under an executive liability policy. Welch has been able to cover his bills but Johnson was not. His lawyer went unpaid for 18 months.

Johnson refused to discuss specific charges in the indictment or matters of evidence.

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"When we are able to present our side, it will be compelling," he said.